Rim options besides the high end (CCW, HRE, Forgeline)

So I have been searching forums and Instagram trying to see what people are running for 18" wheels that aren't CCW, HRE, Forgeline, True Forged, Boze. I am basically looking for wheels that aren't going to run me $3400-$4000 US. I like the chrome/polished look and from some checking polished sounds like a bitch to keep clean(I like how easy the chrome AFS 17's I have are to clean!)

My Cobra is Torch Red. I did like the simple look of the staggered 18" AFS chrome wheels but those are long gone on being available.

What are most of you running now for the more budget focused wheels? I don't mind the forgestar F14's in gunmetal on Torch Red or the CF5.

The SVE series 2 looks good, but I am on the fence if I like the assembly bolt look.

18" chrome saleens or gunmetal aren't bad as well, I just have not been able to view any of these rims in person.

Just looking for some opinions and photos.

Cobra + Budget Focused?
Wrong Hobby Bud

But seriously, the stock chrome ones look really good. One of the few factory wheels I liked about my Cobra. I would just run 17x10.5 out back or stick with a 17x9 and 1/4" spacer.

Tires are cheaper for 17" to...…that's budget focused

pretty much all cast wheels are garbage and heavy when it boils down to it. I would say the closest thing to decent quality on a budget would be a Forgestar type wheel

If I had a choice of a Chinese wheel or an original (or chrome rep) Cobra wheel, I'd run the Cobra wheel. They are a timeless look on these cars & are easy to clean.

1Kona_Venom said:

Cobra + Budget Focused?
Wrong Hobby Bud

But seriously, the stock chrome ones look really good. One of the few factory wheels I liked about my Cobra. I would just run 17x10.5 out back or stick with a 17x9 and 1/4" spacer.

Tires are cheaper for 17" to...…that's budget focused

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Besides the stock sized wheels there isn't much budget focused about my Cobra, expensive wheels just haven't been a priority. I would rather get moderately priced 18" wheels and have money to throw 14" Brembos on the car. Sort of where my head is at.

COOL COBRA said:

If I had a choice of a Chinese wheel or an original (or chrome rep) Cobra wheel, I'd run the Cobra wheel. They are a timeless look on these cars & are easy to clean.

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I do still have a spare pair of factory 17x9 rims I was going to get cut into skinnies to look stock, just never got around to it. Mostly have been wanting to get 14" brakes for the front and to do so requires 18" wheels.

Rims/tires are such a focal point on cars. I guess if you the owner can stand looking at it, who cares what other think.

My opinion on rims. I have to have nice a$$ rims on my cars, the whole focal point thing. My imports have volks/works. Domestics either welds or another US based brand rim.

I ran a set of staggered 18" XXR wheels on my 03 for a while. I've had the high dollar wheels in the past, CCW, BBS, Forgestar, etc., and for the price....... the XXR wheels are hard to beat if you are on a budget. I was really surprised by the quality and fit and finish of these wheels. Weight wise, the difference was minimal. I liked them so much I purchased another set for my new 03.

american muscle has lots of budget friendly wheels.

Has anyone actually put the rovos Durban wheels on a 03-04 Cobra? I saw a thread started by bdubbs asking about them.

Some of the LMR SVE wheels are not bad looking and are rather inexpensive. AFS wheels always look killer on the cobras. Can't stand Rovos, seems everyone and there mother runs them now, but that is imo.

04torchred said:

Has anyone actually put the rovos Durban wheels on a 03-04 Cobra? I saw a thread started by bdubbs asking about them.

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yep, Fastlane Motorsports did that when they bought our Comp Orange
Actually didn't look horrible

There was a black set on my SM 10th coupe when I got it, but I went back to the stock 10th wheels until I pull the trigger on a different set. I may have stayed with the Rovos, but I hated the tires the guy had on them so I just decided to go another direction entirely from the start. The wheels looked good though.

I went with a set of ESR sr05's. A little extra weight in the wheel is something I will never notice since I don't road race or drag race. Since the weight is the only real difference ( They are a great quality, same BBS style as the others, have the offset I need, and have a lifetime warranty) I can't see paying for a name. I have the money for any of the wheels you mentioned but I need to see the value in the things I buy. A name or label by itself doesn't have much value to me.

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awakened said:

I went with a set of ESR sr05's. A little extra weight in the wheel is something I will never notice since I don't road race or drag race. Since the weight is the only real difference ( They are a great quality, same BBS style as the others, have the offset I need, and have a lifetime warranty) I can't see paying for a name. I have the money for any of the wheels you mentioned but I need to see the value in the things I buy. A name or label by itself doesn't have much value to me. View attachment 1552412

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While I agree with your last sentence, you’re definitely paying for more than a name when you but modular forged aluminum wheels when compared to Chinese castings. With that said your wheels don’t look bad and you like them so that’s what matters

What about the wheels from LMR?
They have some sharp looking designs.
Saleens are cheap and timeless as well.

98 svt said:

What about the wheels from LMR?
They have some sharp looking designs.
Saleens are cheap and timeless as well.

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chrome Y2k R wheels are timeless as well. The realer the better lol (I have a Ford set I might be willing to part with along with some mint r58's)

Enkie, XXR, Konig, plenty of options.


RPF1s are like $1200.

Hypergrams are cheap to.

Plenty of forged and flow formed wheels under a grand.

awakened said:

I went with a set of ESR sr05's. A little extra weight in the wheel is something I will never notice since I don't road race or drag race. Since the weight is the only real difference ( They are a great quality, same BBS style as the others, have the offset I need, and have a lifetime warranty) I can't see paying for a name. I have the money for any of the wheels you mentioned but I need to see the value in the things I buy. A name or label by itself doesn't have much value to me. View attachment 1552412

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Those wheels are gorgeous. What is the size on the wheels and tires?

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Revvv said:

Those wheels are gorgeous. What is the size on the wheels and tires?

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Thanks. Wheels are18x9.5/18x10.5 with gun metal centers. Toyo Proxes T1 Sport 275/40ZR18 in front and Toyo Proxes TQ P315/35R18 in the back.

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musclecarresort said:

While I agree with your last sentence, you’re definitely paying for more than a name when you but modular forged aluminum wheels when compared to Chinese castings. With that said your wheels don’t look bad and you like them so that’s what matters

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Thanks. I don't doubt that The high end wheels might have higher ultimate strength or the quality of the materials might be better but usefulness is part of that "value" calculation for me. It's the same reason that I don't run a full titanium custom exhaust. No doubt it's better but am I getting value from the increase in cost? If the features that the extra cost brings are not useful to me then the value is not there. ESR sells less expensive wheels but by no means are they unsafe and it's not a fly by night company. I know I will never push a set of their wheels to the point of failure so all other things being equal (size, colors, design) I chose to go with ESR.
I research and do this with everything I buy. Sometimes harbor freight is the best choice and sometimes Snap-on is the best choice. Sometimes it's something in between but there are definitely times when Snap-on is overkill even though they are always the better quality tool.

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